The 2018 China International Friendship Cities Conference was held in Wuhan on November the 15th. Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan attended the opening ceremony and delivered a keynote speech.

Wang Qishan pointed out: the world today is full of hopes, but also full of challenges. Only through open cooperation and common development can we make continuous progress and keep abreast of the pace of the times.

Wang Qishan said that the concepts of harmonious coexistence, peaceful cooperation, openness and inclusiveness exist in the genes of the Chinese nation. In the long history of more than 5000 years, the various nationalities in China have formed the Chinese nation unceasingly, and have cast the splendid Chinese civilization. Since modern times, the Chinese people have endured sufferings and humiliations, and are keenly aware of the value of peace and the urgency of development.

Wang Qishan stressed: in nearly 70 years since the founding of New China, especially in the past 40 years of reform and opening up, the Chinese people have worked hard and ushered in a bright prospect of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era. The goal of the Chinese party and government is to satisfy the people's yearning for a better life. The interests of China and the world are deeply integrated, and China is willing to join hands with other countries to find a new road of state-to-state exchanges with mutual respect, fairness and justice, and win-win cooperation, so as to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Wang Qishan said: the Chinese Government supports the development of friendly exchanges between Chinese and foreign peoples through various channels and at various levels. The activities of China's international friendship cities have been carried out for 45 years. The fruitful inter-city cooperation has vigorously promoted local economic and social development at home and abroad, and enhanced mutual understanding and friendship between the Chinese people and the people all over the world.

Wang Qishan expressed the hope that the guests at the meeting will pool their wisdom and build consensus around the theme of the conference, "Sharing Development Opportunities and Deepening Win-win Cooperation", so as to inject new vitality into inter-city exchanges and cooperation in the new era.

Wang Qishan also exchanged greetings with Ugandan Vice President Ssekandi and former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama who came to China to attend the meeting.